The effect of different feed delivery methods on time to consume feed and the resulting changes in postprandial metabolite concentrations in horses.
Abstract: Management techniques that reduce the insulin response to feeding in horses have application in preventing insulin resistance (IR) and potential associations (e.g., laminitis). Eight mature idle horses of BCS between 5 and 6.5 and with no previous indication of IR were fed a meal of concentrate under 4 feed delivery treatments in a repeated Latin Square design. Treatments were all based on a bucket of equal dimensions. The treatments included a control (CON) and 3 treatments hypothesized to increase time to consume feed (TCF): mobile obstacles above the feed (BALL), stationary obstacles below the feed (WAFF), and feed with water added (WTR). Jugular venous blood samples were taken at feed delivery, every 10 min for the first hour, and then every 30 min until 300 min after feed delivery. The TCF was different across treatment and was greater (P < 0.05) for BALL and WAFF when compared with CON and WTR. Glucose and insulin concentrations increased after feeding (P < 0.05) and tended to differ among treatments (P < 0.10). Peak insulin and glucose concentrations were affected by treatment as were the time to peak insulin and the area under the curve of insulin (P < 0.05). Therefore, feed delivery methods that include obstacles effectively increase TCF and attenuate postprandial glucose and insulin concentrations. A second experiment was designed to determine if the TCF changes associated with BALL and WAFF in Exp. 1 remain effective over a 4-d period. Four horses with no recent or regular history of consuming concentrates were fed concentrate meals for 4 consecutive d using the same treatments described in Exp. 1 and a Latin square design. Horses were subject to a 4-d adaptation period and were randomly assigned to 4-d treatment periods using the 4 previously described treatments. During adaptation, TCF decreased over time (P = 0.02). After adaptation, WAFF had greater TCF when compared with CON and WTR (P < 0.05) whereas WTR had the lowest TCF overall. Using obstacles to increase TCF on a daily basis may be an effective method to reduce postprandial glucose and insulin concentrations, thereby decreasing the risk of IR development in horses.
Publication Date: 2013-06-05 PubMed ID: 23739792DOI: 10.2527/jas.2012-5727Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Randomized Controlled Trial
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The research investigated whether different methods of feed delivery affected how quickly horses consume their food, and how this impacts blood glucose and insulin levels following a meal. The study found that slowing down feed consumption using obstacles can help moderate blood sugar and insulin spikes, potentially reducing the risk of insulin resistance in horses.
Research Design and Methodology
- The study involved eight healthy mature horses that were subjectively assessed to have a body condition score (BCS) ranging from 5 to 6.5. They had not shown any previous signs of insulin resistance (IR).
- The experimental design was based on a Latin Square scheme, with each horse undergoing all four feed delivery treatments.
- The four treatments were: Control (CON) where feed was given in an undisturbed bucket; Ball (BALL) where mobile obstacles were placed above the feed to slow down consumption; Waffle (WAFF) which used stationary obstacles placed beneath the feed; and Water (WTR) where water was added to the feed.
Data Collection
- Jugular venous blood samples were drawn at several intervals (at the time of food delivery, every 10 minutes for the first hour, and then every 30 minutes until 300 minutes post-meal) to measure glucose and insulin levels after the meal.
- The Time to Consume Feed (TCF) for each horse under each treatment was noted and compared.
- A second experiment was conducted over a four-day period, testing the BALL and WAFF methods, to determine if the effects of increased TCF were maintained consistently.
Results
- It was found that the horses took longer to consume their feed when given the BALL or WAFF treatments, as compared to the CON and WTR treatments.
- Postprandial (post-meal) glucose and insulin concentrations in the blood were also significantly different among the treatments, tending to be lower in the BALL and WAFF treatments.
- In the second experiment, the WAFF method resulted in increased TCF compared to the CON and WTR methods, suggesting that this effect is consistent over a stretch of several days.
Implications
- The researchers concluded that techniques that increase the time it takes for horses to consume their feed, such as placing obstacles in the feed, can influence the post-meal concentration of glucose and insulin in the blood.
- By moderating these postprandial blood sugar and insulin spikes, the risk of developing insulin resistance among horses can potentially be reduced.
Cite This Article
APA
Kutzner-Mulligan J, Eisemann J, Siciliano P, Smith J, Hewitt K, Sharlette J, Pratt-Phillips S.
(2013).
The effect of different feed delivery methods on time to consume feed and the resulting changes in postprandial metabolite concentrations in horses.
J Anim Sci, 91(8), 3772-3779.
https://doi.org/10.2527/jas.2012-5727 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27695, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animal Feed / analysis
- Animal Husbandry / methods
- Animals
- Blood Glucose
- Cross-Over Studies
- Eating / physiology
- Female
- Horses / blood
- Horses / physiology
- Insulin Resistance
- Male
- Postprandial Period
- Time Factors
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Raspa F, Roggero A, Palestrini C, Marten Canavesio M, Bergero D, Valle E. Studying the Shape Variations of the Back, the Neck, and the Mandibular Angle of Horses Depending on Specific Feeding Postures Using Geometric Morphometrics. Animals (Basel) 2021 Mar 10;11(3).
- Leschke DH, Muir GS, Hodgson JK, Coyle M, Horn R, Bertin FR. Immunoreactive insulin stability in horses at risk of insulin dysregulation. J Vet Intern Med 2019 Nov;33(6):2746-2751.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
